Rail-joint.



lilith` Sinrns Barnum rricn.

JAMES S. PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Rmb-JOINT.

SPECIFICATIONformng pari'.- of Letters Patent No. 662,809, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed April 21, 1900. Serial No. 13,741. iNo model.)

.ing` section B.

Beit known that I, JAMES S. PATTEN, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Joints,of which the following is a specilar View showing the joint unfastened and.'

with the rail and clamping-section in position for operation to press the rail home to its seat in the clasp-section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the clamping-section, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the claspsection.

The railj oi nt, as shown, comprises the chair and the bolt and nut by which the chair is held firmly to the rail. The chair, as shown, includes the clasp-section A and the clamping-section B. The clasp-section A is provided With the upright Wing or fish-plate A', the inwardly-opening seat A2, into which one edge of the rail'base may (it, the base-plate A2, on which the base of the rail may rest,

and the upturned portion AAL at the free edge of the base-plate A3 and opposite the seat A2, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4. The upturned portion A4 is provided on its inner side with the inclined face A5, which operates by a Wedging action to force the base of the rail iirmly into the seat A2 of the clasp-section in the operation of the device, as presently described. The outer extremity of the upturned portion' A4 is extended laterally outward, producing a web A6 `for engagement by the returned hook-like portion on the clamp- The clamping-section B is formed With the ish-plate section Bl and the base-section B2, Whose outer end is returned, forming the hook B3 for engagement with the web A6 of the clasp-section, as shown in Figs. l and 2. When the clamping-section is en gaged With the claspsection, as shown in Figs. l and 2, it Will be seen that the hook B3 on the clamping-section does not project below the baseline of the clasp-section, but lies at its under side in the same plane with that of the clasp-section, so that the chair may rest flat upon any support, as may be desired. This result is accomplished by forming the claspsection with the upturned portion A4, which supports the web A6 in an elevated position, as shown. The base portion B2 of the clamping-section is provided on its under side with av downWardly-extending fulcrum portion C, which is arranged comparatively near the outer edge of the clamping-section, so it will bear upon the base of the rail near the outer edge thereofopposite to that which fits within the seat A2 of the clasp-section A. The purpose of this construction is to enable the operation of the chair-sections by the bolt and nut in such manner as to cause or eiect the pressing of the rail firmly into place Within the clasp-section, as will be understood from Figs. l and 2.

In the operation of the described construction if the rail be fitted partially in the claspsection, as shown in Fig. 2, the edge of its base at l (see Fig. 2) Will bear upon the incline A5, and it is manifest that if pressure be exerted on the base of the rail above its edge l it Will operate by reason of said inoline A5 to force the base of the rail firmly into the seat A2 of the clasp-section. To effect this pressure, I form the clampinfsection B to engage at its outer edge with the edge of the claspsection beyond the incline A5 and also form the clamping-section With the downwardly-extending fulcruin portion which bears upon the base f the rail and operates as the nuts are tightened to press the base of the rail into the seat A2, so that the proper tightening of the nuts AWill adjust the chair-section B and the rail from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, in which the rail is represented as rmly and snugly held by the chair-sections.

In adjusting the chair-section from the open position shown in Fig. 2 to the closed position shown in Fig. l it will be seen that the hook B3 on the clam ping-section B will slide laterally upon the web A6 of the clasp-section, so that the hook will be in full engagement with the Web in the fastened position of the parts.

It will be seen that the chair-sections are so formed that they can be conveniently rolled and thus produced at the minimum cost ready for use.

I OO

Having thus described niy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination in a rail-joint withthe rail, of the chair composed of the clasp-section having an upright fish-plate, a laterallyopening seat for one edge of the rail, and a base-plate having, at its edge opposite said seat, an upturned portion having an incline upon which the base of the rail operates, and a laterally-projecting elevated web, and the clamping-section having a {ish-plate and a base-plate provided at its outer edge with a hook to engage the Web of the clasp-section, said base-plate of the clamping-section being provided on its under side with a downwardlyextending fulcrum portion arranged to bear upon the base of the rail and press the edge of the latter down upon the inclined surface bear upon the base of the rail over the iny clined surface of the base of the clasp-section and having at its outer edge a returned portion forming a hook adapted to engage over the web at the outer edge of the base of the clasp-section, substantially as set forth.

3. A chair for rail-joints comprising the clasp-section having a laterally-opening seat for the edge of the rail-base, and a base-plate provided near its free edge With an inclined su rfaee adapted to operate by a Wedging aotion upon the edge of the rail, and the clamping-section having a base-plate adapted at its outer edge to engage with that of the base of the clasp-section and provided on its under side with means by which to press upon the base of the rail and force the rail into the seat of the clasp-section, substantially as set forth.

JAMES S. PATTEN.

Witnesses: v

G. W. WATTS, J. MIDDLETON. 

